Footwear Clip with Heel Protector

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a footwear clip with a heel protector used to provide comfort to the wearer of the footwear clip. The heel protector may be integrated as part of the footwear clip or a separate piece that can be attached to the footwear clip to protect the heel of the wearer of the footwear. The heel protector conforms to the heel portion of the footwear, and may be made of cloth, rubber, flexible plastic, or any other material that may provide padding and protection to the heel of the wearer of the footwear. There are many applications which may want to be comfortably attached to footwear such as decorations like charms, jewelry, data collections devices for steps, gaits, medical devices, and energy collection systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a heel protector for a footwear clip. There are many different applications and needs to clip decorations or devices onto footwear. These can be as simple as decorative jewelry such as novelty spurs that mimic the look of cowboy spurs to something as advanced as an energy collection device that harvests energy from the movement of the foot or leg.

The challenge with clips for footwear is they can be uncomfortable because they tend to rub against the heel of the wearer. This limits the type of clips that can be used. Footwear clips for clogs tend to be a C style clip that attach to the heel strap. This C style clip limits the type and size of clogs that the accessories can clip onto or increases complexity to fit a variety of heel strap sizes. Another style is a more universal style clip that clips over the back of the footwear heel section. However, to provide the strength needed, the more universal style clip must be thick enough to be durable. That additional thickness makes the accessory uncomfortable especially when worn without socks or in tight fitting footwear where the heel is pressed firmly against the back of the footwear. To provide more comfort, a novel heel protector for the footwear clip was designed that provides conformal padding at the back of the footwear where the heel or the ankle would typically rub. That footwear clip with a heel protector is the subject of this invention.

This footwear clip with heel protector conforms to the back portion of the footwear distributing the pressure of the heel against the clip over a larger surface area. Distributing the pressure over a larger surface area, both eliminates a single uncomfortable pain point and reduces rubbing of the heel against a hard surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A footwear clip that has a heel protector is disclosed. The heel protector for the footwear clip may be integrated as part of the footwear clip or a separate piece that can be attached to the footwear clip to protect the heel of the wearer of the footwear. The heel protector may be made of cloth, rubber, flexible plastic, or any other material that may provide padding and protection to the heel of the wearer of the footwear, that conforms to the heel part of the footwear. The purpose of the heel protector is to provide comfort for the wearer of the footwear clip. The footwear clip may be used to clip a charm, jewelry, or other decoration onto the shoe. The footwear clip may also be used to clip a medical device, step or gait measuring device, or any other metric involved with the movement or health of the wearer of the footwear. The footwear clip may be used in conjunction with or as part of an energy collection system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 2 is a front left perspective view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector detached from the footwear clip.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to the footwear clip.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an example footwear clip and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur, with a heel protector attached to an example item of footwear, in this case a tennis shoe.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an example footwear clip with an integrated heel protector and decorative footwear charm, in this case a novelty spur.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to the combination of a footwear clip and a heel or ankle protector. The purpose of the heel protector is to provide comfort for the wearer of the footwear. There are many applications for which there may be a desire to clip an accessory onto the heel part of footwear. The footwear accessory may be superficial like a decoration for the shoe or as a fashion accessory. The footwear accessory may also be used in conjunction with some sort of biometric data. The footwear accessory may also be used as part of an energy harvesting device.

Typically to reduce cost, the footwear clip would be made of a hard, strong, plastic material. The footwear clip attached to footwear tends to rub against the heel or ankle of the wearer of the footwear and can be uncomfortable. To minimize the discomfort caused by the footwear clip, a heel protector that covers the footwear clip and conforms to the heel portion of the footwear was designed. The heel protector is typically made of soft, flexible material that is comfortable when in contact with the skin of the wearer of the footwear such as silicone. The heel protector may detach from the footwear clip, or it may be integrated as part of the footwear clip depending on the final application.

The footwear accessory 100 is illustrated as a decorative shoe charm mimicking the look of a cowboy spur. 100 consists of multiple parts including a rowel 105, a footwear clip 103, and a heel protector 101. The heel protector 101 can be removable from 100 with a simple friction mechanism 107 or the heel protector can be integrated as a continuous part of the footwear clip 301. The footwear clip with an integrated heel protector 300 is illustrated as part of a decorative shoe accessory but the shoe clip and integrated heel protector 300 may be one part of many different applications.

The purpose of the footwear accessory 100 including the heel protector 101 can be seen in use on an example shoe 201 to show how it would protect the heel of the wearer of the footwear as an overall system 200. The overall shape of the heel protector is dependent on the final application and design of the footwear clip. The figures only provide one example application. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A footwear apparatus, comprising: a. a clip that attaches to the part of the footwear that would be in contact or near contact with the wearer of the footwear's heel or ankle; and b. a heel or ankle protector made of soft flexible material such as plastic, rubber, fabric, or other type of padding that conforms to the part of the footwear that otherwise may be in contact or near contact with the wearer of the footwear.
 2. The footwear apparatus in claim 1, further comprising a decorative charm or jewelry attached to said clip.
 3. The footwear apparatus in claim 1, further comprising a device that measures or collects data on the step, gait, foot, or body movement of the wearer of the footwear, attached to said clip.
 4. The footwear apparatus in claim 1, further comprising a device that measures or collects medical data on the wearer of the footwear, attached to said clip.
 5. The footwear apparatus in claim 1, further comprising a device that measures or collects energy generated by the wearer of the footwear, attached to said clip. 